SpaceShipTwo Goes Supersonic: 3rd Rocket Test

Credit: Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo space plane rockets through the stratosphere at 71,000 feet, its highest flight yet, during its third powered test flight on Jan. 10, 2014. The supersonic flight occurred over California's Mojave Air and Space Port. [Read the Full Story on the SpaceShipTwo Test Flight Here]

SpaceShipTwo Rocket Motor Ignites

Credit: Virgin Galactic (via Facebook)

SpaceShipTwo ignites her hybrid rocket motor, as seen from WhiteKnightTwo. During the Jan. 10, 2014, test flight, the rocket motor fired for 20 seconds, accelerating SpaceShipTwo to Mach 1.4, and carrying the vehicle to an altitude of 71,000 feet over Mojave Air & Space Port.

SpaceShipTwo Before Rocket Ignition

Credit: Virgin Galactic (via Facebook)

SpaceShipTwo moments before ignition of her hybrid rocket motor at Mojave Air & Space Port, as seen from WhiteKnightTwo. The test flight on Jan. 10, 2014, marked the third occasion that SpaceShipTwo exceeded the speed of sound, and the first time that Virgin Galactic’s Chief Pilot, Dave Mackay, piloted a rocket-powered test flight.

SpaceShipTwo at 71,000 Feet

Credit: Virgin Galactic (via Facebook)

After firing her hybrid rocket motor above Mojave Air & Space Port, SpaceShipTwo coasts up to an altitude of 71,000 feet on a supersonic test flight, Jan. 10, 2014. At 71,000 feet, the sky is already darkening to black, and the curvature of the Earth is evident; a full space mission will go many times higher.

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo Supersonic Test: Jan. 10, 2014

Credit: MarsScientific.com/Clay Center Observatory

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo spacecraft is a reusable spaceship built to fly passengers on commercial trips to suborbital space and safely back home. On Jan. 10, 2014, the vehicle made its highest rocket-powered flight ever. It is the third supersonic test flight for SpaceShipTwo, which is designed to fly two pilots and six passengers on suborbital spaceflights for $250,000 a seat. [Read the Full Story on the SpaceShipTwo Test Flight Here]

Tariq joined Purch's Space.com team in 2001 as a staff writer, and later editor, covering human spaceflight, exploration and space science. He became Space.com's Managing Editor in 2009. Before joining Space.com, Tariq was a staff reporter for The Los Angeles Times. He is also an Eagle Scout (yes, he has the Space Exploration merit badge) and went to Space Camp four times as a kid and a fifth time as an adult. He has journalism degrees from the University of Southern California and New York University. To see his latest project, you can follow Tariq on Google+, Twitter and on Facebook.

Tariq Malik, Space.com Managing Editor
on

previous | next

SpaceShipTwo Goes Supersonic: 3rd Rocket Test

Credit: Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo space plane rockets through the stratosphere at 71,000 feet, its highest flight yet, during its third powered test flight on Jan. 10, 2014. The supersonic flight occurred over California's Mojave Air and Space Port. [Read the Full Story on the SpaceShipTwo Test Flight Here]

SpaceShipTwo Rocket Motor Ignites

Credit: Virgin Galactic (via Facebook)

SpaceShipTwo ignites her hybrid rocket motor, as seen from WhiteKnightTwo. During the Jan. 10, 2014, test flight, the rocket motor fired for 20 seconds, accelerating SpaceShipTwo to Mach 1.4, and carrying the vehicle to an altitude of 71,000 feet over Mojave Air & Space Port.

SpaceShipTwo Before Rocket Ignition

Credit: Virgin Galactic (via Facebook)

SpaceShipTwo moments before ignition of her hybrid rocket motor at Mojave Air & Space Port, as seen from WhiteKnightTwo. The test flight on Jan. 10, 2014, marked the third occasion that SpaceShipTwo exceeded the speed of sound, and the first time that Virgin Galactic’s Chief Pilot, Dave Mackay, piloted a rocket-powered test flight.

SpaceShipTwo at 71,000 Feet

Credit: Virgin Galactic (via Facebook)

After firing her hybrid rocket motor above Mojave Air & Space Port, SpaceShipTwo coasts up to an altitude of 71,000 feet on a supersonic test flight, Jan. 10, 2014. At 71,000 feet, the sky is already darkening to black, and the curvature of the Earth is evident; a full space mission will go many times higher.

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo Supersonic Test: Jan. 10, 2014

Credit: MarsScientific.com/Clay Center Observatory

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo spacecraft is a reusable spaceship built to fly passengers on commercial trips to suborbital space and safely back home. On Jan. 10, 2014, the vehicle made its highest rocket-powered flight ever. It is the third supersonic test flight for SpaceShipTwo, which is designed to fly two pilots and six passengers on suborbital spaceflights for $250,000 a seat. [Read the Full Story on the SpaceShipTwo Test Flight Here]